Miracle Whip

Miracle Whip is a condiment manufactured by Kraft Heinz and sold throughout the United States and Canada. It is also sold by Mondelēz International (formerly also Kraft Foods) as "Miracel Whip" throughout Germany.^[1] It was developed as a less expensive alternative to mayonnaise in 1933.^[2]

Miracle Whip

Product type	Condiment
Owner	Kraft Heinz
Introduced	1933; 92 years ago (1933)
Previous owners	Kraft Foods, Inc.

History

Launched in 1933 at the World’s Fair in Chicago, Miracle Whip was promoted as a cheaper alternative to mayonnaise during the Great Depression. Miracle Whip soon became a success as a condiment for fruits, vegetables, and salads.^[3] Its success was bolstered by Kraft's advertising campaign, which included sponsorship of a series of two-hour radio programs. At the end of its introductory period, Miracle Whip was outselling all mayonnaise brands.^{[citation needed]}

According to Kraft's archivist, Becky Haglund Tousey, Kraft developed the product in-house, using a patented "emulsifying machine", invented by Charles Chapman, to create a product that blended mayonnaise and less expensive boiled dressing^[4] or salad dressing spread. The machine, dubbed "Miracle Whip" by Chapman, ensured that the ingredients, including more than 20 spices, were thoroughly blended.^[5]

Another story claims that Miracle Whip was invented in Salem, Illinois, at Max Crosset's Cafe, where it was called "Max Crossett's X-tra Fine Salad Dressing", and that Crosset sold it to Kraft Foods in 1931 for $300^[6] (equivalent to $6,200 in 2024). While stating that Kraft did buy many salad dressings, Tousey disputes the claim that X-tra Fine was Miracle Whip.^[5]

Since 1972, Miracle Whip has been sold as Miracel Whip in Germany.^[1] It was formerly produced by Kraft Foods, and is now made by Mondelēz International, in Bad Fallingbostel.^[7]

Ingredients and nutrition

Miracle Whip is made from water, soybean oil, high-fructose corn syrup, vinegar, modified corn starch, eggs, salt, natural flavor, mustard flour, potassium sorbate, spice, and dried garlic.^[8] The original Miracle Whip is produced using less oil than mayonnaise, thus has around half of the calories. Due to added corn syrup it is also sweeter compared to mayonnaise.^[9]

Advertising

1948 advertisement

Six Flags announced a new partnership with the Miracle Whip brand in 2009.^[10]

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Miracle Whip attempted to appeal to younger audiences, with Miracle Whip advertising featuring prominently in the Electronic Arts video game Skate 3, including a dedicated trick, contest, and an achievement called Don't Be So Mayo.^[11] Kraft paid Lady Gaga to include Miracle Whip in the music video for her song "Telephone".^[12] Television adverts described Miracle Whip as an alternative to "real boring" mayonnaise.^[13] Criticism by Stephen Colbert led to Miracle Whip buying ad time on his show, The Colbert Report, and attacking Colbert for being a "mayo lover".^[14] This also included publishing an open letter stating the attack was "raising hell, man".^[15] Eventually, this advertising was dropped.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, the town of Mayo, Florida, temporarily changed its name to Miracle Whip as a promotional stunt.^[16]

See also

• Salad cream, a British creamy yellow condiment